6 Answers
6

Cerberus can be activated by both it's web service and via text message. If you're rooted, it can be integrated into the system apps and so survive a complete wipe. FYI, NO app will let you track your phone while it's turned off :)

It can also turn on the GPS remotely, has real time tracking using Google maps (looks like Google navigation in a web browser), take pics/record sound & video, sound an alarm, hide itself from the app drawer so thieves won't know it's there, remotely lock the phone with a code, wipe the system, display messages, download the last 10 texts and phone calls, and LOTS more.

AndroidLost is my personal favorite. I don't know if it can turn the device on, but I know it works for everything else. My favorite feature is the pop-up message you can send that takes a picture with the front facing camera when they click OK. If you don't have access to your phone, install it via the market link and login on their site!

I couldn't find any anti-theft app that can be activated in any way besides sending a text message. What you can do, however, is installing one of these apps and immediately activating it before losing your phone. Having GPS continously activated may drain your battery more than you'd like to, though.

Of course, your phone can neither phone home nor be remote controlled unless it has some sort of internet connection. But Wifi should still work without a SIM card.

The most popular apps for this sort of thing seem to be Prey and Where's my Droid. The latter requires the paid pro version if you need remote wipe.

Assuming the phone hasn't been wiped , and is logged into your account, and has some form of network access, Android device manager can locate, wipe and lock your phone. With newer versions you need to enable location access. I tested location and ringing on a phone with wifi, but no functional sim card (I have an old cancelled one inside to keep it from complaining).

Without any way to communicate with a phone its tricky. Prey is pretty nice, has a proven track record (and a pretty impressive recoveries page) and can be activated over text. It will also activate itself on a sim card change or removal, and try to call back so it may be useful since the phone will have to be turned on eventually to get any use of it.